WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES – US Senator Marco Rubio has introduced a bill calling for the withholding of US aid to Afghanistan for fears of terrorism financing.
As reported by Fox News, the bill titled Stop Funding Global Terrorists Act of 204 would bar the US from making “any voluntary or assessed contributions” to the United Nations for humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.
According to the news outlet, the bill would also require the US Secretary of State to clarify to the US House and Senate Foreign Relations and Appropriations Committees that the money isn’t being funneled to the Taliban before the payments can be resumed.
“American taxpayer dollars should not benefit terrorist organizations, like the Taliban. Unfortunately, we are seeing this scenario play out today, in real time.” Mr. Rubio told Fox News.
“Until we can be sure, we should withhold contributions to the U.N.,” he added.
Concerns about the Taliban’s diversion of humanitarian aid arise as Afghanistan faces one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. The UN estimates that over two-thirds of the country’s population rely on donor-led humanitarian assistance this year.
More than two and a half years following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Washington remains the largest donor to the country, having contributed nearly $2.52 billion during this time frame.
The latest development adds to the mounting criticism from US officials, including the Chairman of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee and the US government watchdog, SIGAR, regarding the Taliban’s infiltration into charities and the group’s diversion of aid.
During a testimony before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee last November, John F. Sopko, the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), highlighted the Taliban’s interference in and exploitation of a substantial portion of US aid to Afghanistan.
Mr. Sopko said that the ruling regime in Afghanistan put pressure on US partners to hire its allies and its own companies.
Additionally, he said that all 39 experts and aid practitioners SIGAR spoke with, including UN officials, recounted their “first-hand experience with Taliban diversion or interference in US assistance.”
The head of SIGAR mentioned that although aid diversion was an issue during the previous republican government in Afghanistan, the diversion of humanitarian assistance by the Taliban is of particular concern given the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and the Taliban’s terrorist ties.
“Unlike with the prior Afghan governments, diverted funds now may fund terrorist activities in addition to enriching the pockets of corrupt officials,” Sopko emphasized.
Michael McCaul, Chair of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, once said that the “terrorist Taliban” who now control Afghanistan steal humanitarian aid from starving Afghans.
“Unfortunately, we know that the Taliban are engaged in theft and diversion of this fund to serve their maligned purposes,” Mr. McCaul said while criticizing the Biden administration for pursuing a policy of engagement at all costs and failing to hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes.
On February 12, 2023, aid agencies in central Ghor province, including the World Food Program (WFP), abruptly halted their operations, citing Taliban extortion as the primary cause. Local sources told KabulNow that the Taliban demanded these organizations to hand over to them 30% of food or cash aid intended for the people.
Under Rubio’s bill, the US Secretary of State would have a specific responsibility to guarantee that the US funds are not included in cash shipments to the Taliban controlled Afghanistan and that no “specially designated global terrorist organization” receives these contributions.
